Texas A&M had one of college football’s top offenses in 2011 thanks to a couple of guys with the same first name: Ryan Tannehill, now the Dolphins’ quarterback, and Ryan Swope, his trusty receiver. The Aggies finished seventh out of 120 teams in total offense (490 yards per game), 11th in scoring (39.1 points per game) and Swope set school records with 89 catches and 1,207 yards (plus 11 touchdowns).

Ryan Tannehill (17) and Ryan Swope put up big numbers for the Aggies and would like to be reunited with the Dolphins / aggieathletics.com

The Dolphins’ search for a wide receiver this offseason has mostly focused on the big names – free agents Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings, and prospects Cordarrelle Patterson and Keenan Allen – but Swope, projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, could be an intriguing option for the Dolphins and a good value pick in a shaky receiver class.

Not only is Tannehill one of his best friends, but the Dolphins have essentially become the Aggies South, with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman (who recruited Swope out of Austin, Texas), quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, offensive line coach Jim Turner, fullback Jorvorskie Lane and practice squad receiver Jeff Fuller.

Swope, who will be at the NFL Combine this weekend in Indianapolis, said Miami is certainly a place he would like to land.

“That would be really cool to go there and see that coaching staff that I’m close with, and see Tannehill and just be surrounded by some good old Aggies,” said Swope, listed at 6-1 and 205 pounds. “It would be a lot of fun. I feel like all the Aggies are down there in South Florida, so I keep tuned in on a daily basis.”

Swope’s production fell off slightly in 2012 without Tannehill, catching 72 passes for 913 yards and eight touchdowns. But he’s fearless going over the middle, is an excellent route runner and blocker and could be an instant plug-and-play in the Dolphins’ offense, given the similarities to the offense he ran at A&M and his relationship with Tannehill, whom he texts and calls often.

“He was a receiver at A&M and he kind of molded me at receiver, and then he switched to quarterback,” Swope said of Tannehill. “It was just one of those things where we had been working together for quite awhile and built that chemistry through practice, and then got to develop it on the field when the lights turned on. It was a special thing.”

Swope also enjoyed playing for Sherman for three seasons and wouldn’t mind a reunion.

“Sherman recruited me and mentored me. He’s just a great guy. I keep in touch with him,” Swope said. “He’s just a competitor. He taught me a lot. He just knows so much about football, it’s been fun learning all the knowledge from him.”